With so many dog food brands and formulations on the market, finding hypoallergenic dog food can be difficult. It's also more expensive because proteins like bison, deer, and duck—which are frequently included in sensitive formulas—are more expensive. In this post, we'll look at the various possibilities, from the most economical hypoallergenic dog chow to the most expensive varieties. Let's start with some fundamentals regarding dogs and food allergies.
When dogs consume something to which they are allergic, their immune system may react with symptoms such as itching, sneezing, and a sensitive stomach. If you suspect your dog is having an allergic reaction and have ruled out other possible causes, testing for dog food allergies is a useful first step. With basic information, your vet or a veterinary nutritionist can assist you in determining how to make your dog feel better.
Food allergies and intolerances in dogs are usually hereditary, passed down from parents to puppies. Certain proteins cannot be digested by a dog who has a food allergy (the most common allergens are nearly all proteins). Reducing or eliminating that sort of protein or proteins from your dog's diet is likely to provide relief.
When it comes to allergies in dogs, the following are the most typical culprits:
There are commercial skin and blood allergy tests available, and your veterinarian may advise you to start there. You may read about one owner's testing experience here. An elimination diet, on the other hand, is the most thorough technique to determine which foods your pet is allergic to.
Dr. Susan Wynn, a veterinary nutritionist, discusses the method in an interview with Fetch by WebMD: "What we do is take the dog off all the things it's eating and put him on a food that he's never eaten before." I've dispatched scouts to look for alligator and yak. We begin reintroducing the old meals that we assume caused the difficulties in the first place after the dog has improved. We'll know he has a food allergy if he has a reaction, which normally takes a few days to a few weeks.”
Once you've identified the troublesome elements in your dog's diet, the next step is to provide your dog a nutritious diet that excludes these issue items. There are various paths to take.
Purchase veterinarian-recommended food. These limited-ingredient diets are available from your veterinarian or from a pet food retailer such as Chewy. You must provide the prescription or contact information for your veterinarian to the store so that they can check the prescription and ask any required questions.
Make your own homemade dog food. It's a terrific method to keep track of what your dog eats. We've got some nutritious dog food recipes for you to try, as well as some terrific dog food recipe hacks to make cooking for your dog less of a chore.
Purchase hypoallergenic commercial dog foods made with a minimal number of components. Below is a list of foods from the best brands.
If cooking for your dog is out of the question, purchasing pet food that does not cause an immunological response is a smart alternative. We've compiled a list of the best hypoallergenic dog food options, including two low-cost options. These limited-ingredient diets (commonly abbreviated as LID) will assist you in keeping track of what your dog is and is not eating.
Remember that not all meals are suitable for all food allergies, and that higher quality or rarer components will cost more than your normal diet.
Hill's D/D formula is one food that your veterinarian is likely to recommend to start addressing your pup's food allergies. It's a basic hypoallergenic dog food that can help your dog's health get back on track. The grain- and soy-free D/D recipes—venison, salmon, or duck are available—each use a single protein source. Some of those recipes are also available in wet form.
This Blue Buffalo Basics dog food contains a single source of animal protein (in this case, salmon, along with other possibilities) as well as easy-to-digest carbohydrate sources, making it an excellent choice for hypoallergenic dog food. It contains omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which promote healthy skin, as well as a blend of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, which support immune system health. This salmon and potato recipe has no poultry, meat, corn, wheat, soy, dairy, or eggs and is made with high-quality ingredients that are easy on your dog's tummy.
Ollie is an excellent choice for pet parents looking for fresh dog food with few ingredients. Their ingredients include single animal proteins (we tried chicken, but for dogs that are sensitive to chicken, they also offer beef, turkey, and lamb) and are devoid of common allergens like corn, soy, and wheat. A veterinary nutritionist created the feeds, and all contents are clearly documented on their website, displaying a balance of vitamins, minerals, and fibre for digestion. Before testing out a recipe, you may even tell them about your dog's allergies in their onboarding quiz.
The Wellness Simple range of diets (available in wet and kibble formulations) include both entire single proteins and meat meals (meat meal is a low-cost, high-protein component generated by boiling all of the water out of the meat) as well as healthy, familiar ingredients. As a result, high-quality, hypoallergenic dog food is available at a mid-price point. In addition to the duck and oatmeal dish described below, it is available in lamb, turkey, and fish.
Purina's limited-ingredient dog food formulation was created by in-house nutritionists and has nine natural ingredients, the first of which is chicken. This food contains no wheat, soy, or corn and is a reasonably priced hypoallergenic dog food.
Salmon is the first ingredient in this hypoallergenic dog food formula, which is made up of only eight whole-food ingredients plus vitamins, minerals, and a probiotic blend. The easy-to-digest recipe incorporates foods like sweet potatoes and peas for complete nourishment without causing an upset stomach.
This grain-free recipe contains a short list of ingredients, including duck, a novel source of high-quality animal protein. This recipe, which is packed with nutritious components and supplemented for balanced nutrition, is highly digestible and free of corn, wheat, soy, and other additives.
This recipe is grain-free and gluten-free, thanks to the use of salmon as the sole source of animal protein and easily digestible carbs. This simple hypoallergenic meal gives essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals to your dog without the use of artificial colors, tastes, or preservatives. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids help maintain your dog's skin and hair healthy and lustrous.
This hypoallergenic dog chow contains a single source of animal protein (chicken) as well as the carbohydrate powerhouse, sweet potatoes—it is grain-free otherwise. The restricted ingredients in this formula make it simple to control your dog's protein and carbohydrate sources. It is designed to give comprehensive, balanced nourishment for adult dogs.
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